Talk is cheap but then again, talk doesn't have to be expensive to pay large dividends. Such could be the case here regarding Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson's recent visit with an Iron Range leader, re: regional economic development. Hear! Hear!
This past Monday, Mayor Bergson paid a visit to Iron Range Resources Commissioner Sandy Layman to discuss the mutual importance of the Iron Range and Duluth as economic partners in today's changing socio-economic society. In a couple of weeks, Layman will come to Duluth with an additional meeting scheduled. So much for the preliminaries.
On a related note, Mayor Bergson was concerned by what I wrote last week regarding his implied support of a structural change in the Duluth Economic Development Authority (DEDA). The council voted to eliminate the four appointed citizen commissioners, replacing them with council members so the nine-member board would actually become a council committee of the whole. I felt Bergson should have vetoed that effort or at least expressed strong opposition to the planned format change. He did neither.
He did suggest the council consider appointing a citizen advisory board to work with the council promoting economic development. Such a plan would be flawed from the very beginning and economic development will most assuredly become more political and, without a doubt, suffer at the expense of logic. Sorry, mayor. That's the way I feel, and I have had some experience in these matters through the years.
However, there may well be some good news relating to the Bergson/Layman discussions. Mayor Bergson, by now, must realize that Superior municipal government operates differently than Duluth's. Bergson was a former mayor of Superior. Here in Duluth, Bergson is the chief executive officer (CEO) with an administrative assistant, department heads and a related office staff. He runs the city with an operating budget.
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The elected members of the city council can enact ordinances and raise taxes, but the mayor has limited veto privileges over their actions. The mayor is not required to attend council meetings although he assuredly should listen to the wishes of councilors in their presumed efforts to improve city operations.
I believe Bergson is up to the task. He has only been on the job for three months, so prejudging may be a little early at this point.
For years, a number of area political operatives have been whining about Duluth's perceived arrogance relating to a non-cooperative posturing with neighboring communities. Many of these politicians were acting like kids instead of responsible community leaders.
Perhaps Layman and our new mayor can overcome the past using logic rather than political foolishness to get things moving in our area. The truth is Duluth, without a doubt, is the hub of this area's wheel with a seaport, international airport, hotel and motel facilities, a sizable convention center, medical and educational excellence, a major highway network, etc. Working with surrounding communities, cooperatively, only makes sense. If neighboring communities expand, Duluth will get its share of the benefits as well.
But I have a word of caution. Duluth will go nowhere if we continue to put government initiatives on the top of our economic agenda. We need private growth using non-government resources from individuals and companies that know where they are going, without government mingling and obstruction. Our political attitude needs an overhaul, and the sooner the better to jump-start a very positive future for this area.
Dick Palmer is the former editor and publisher of the Budgeteer News. He may be reached by telephone at 729-6470 or by
e-mail at rpalmer@duluth.com .
